Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Georgia

I have been living Iran since 2009. Due to US sanctions on Iran, I couldn't transfer money to my account. Now, my credit lines are passed to collection companies and my student loan went into default.

Where should I start?


Asked on 6/26/14, 10:12 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Start by calling the collection agencies who have your account. Write down all the details of your call - name of representative you talked to, time/date, any special file numbers on your account.

Are you able to pay in full? Or do you want to set up payments? How much do you owe? Is this a private or public student loan? If public, then there is no statute of limitations. If private, then its up to you if you pay. The limitations period would be 6 years and assuming the default occurred in 2009 when you left the country then you still could be sued but the statute would expire sometime next year and you are out of the country - its not like the debt collector is going to go to Iran and find you. If you have no plans to return and its a private student loan, maybe you don't pay at all.

What are your plans? Are you ever going to return to the US?

Assuming that you have a moral and legal duty to pay, if you can pay in full, fine. If not, then see what they will accept per month as payment (generally its somewhere around 1% to 4% of the debt). Are you working? I don't think I would make a payment higher than 15% but it depends on your circumstances. If you have some other kind of financial hardship, the collection agency may have a financial statement for you to fill out.

It would be very helpful to have more details here - this is just general advice.

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Answered on 6/26/14, 11:11 am
Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

As long as you're in Iran there probably is no way for them to collect. If you plan to return the student loans never go away so set up a repayment plan. As to other debts, some may be too old to collect depending on info we do not have. On your return to the US see a lawyer.

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Answered on 6/26/14, 6:34 pm


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